FORBIDDEN TO LAND 239 



all, the sign of the Cross to that instrument, was to us 

 a great rejoicing, and as it were a certain presage of 

 good. Our answer was in the Spanish tongue, That 

 for our ship, it was well ; for we had rather met with 

 calms and contrary winds, than any tempests. For our 

 sick, they were many, and in very ill case ; so that if 

 they were not permitted to land, they ran in danger 

 of their lives. Our other wants we set down in par 

 ticular, adding, That we had some little store of mer 

 chandize, which if it pleased them to deal for, it might 

 supply our wants, without being chargeable unto them. 

 We offered some reward in pistolets unto the servant, 

 and a piece of crimson velvet to be presented to the 

 officer : but the servant took them not, nor would 

 scarce look upon them ; and so left us, and went back 

 in another little boat which was sent for him. 



About three hours after we had dispatched our answer 

 there came towards us a person (as it seemed) of place. 

 He had on him a gown with wide sleeves, of a kind of 

 water chamolet, of an excellent azure colour, far more 

 glossy than ours : his under apparel was green, and so 

 was his hat, being in the form of a turban, daintily 

 made, and not so huge as the Turkish turbans ; and 

 the locks of his hair came down below the brims of it. 

 A reverend man was he to behold. He came in a boat, 

 gilt in some parts of it, with four persons more only in 

 that boat ; and was followed by another boat, wherein 

 were some twenty. When he was come within a flight 

 shot of our ship, signs were made to us that we should 

 send forth some to meet him upon the water, which we 

 presently did in our ship-boat, sending the principal 

 man amongst us save one, and four of our number with 

 him. 



When we were come within six yards of their boat, 

 they called to us to stay, and not to approach farther, 

 which we did. And thereupon the man, whom I before 

 described, stood up, and with a loud voice, in Spanish, 

 asked, * Are ye Christians ? We answered, we were ; 

 fearing the less, because of the Cross we had seen in the 

 subscription. At which answer the said person lift up 



